What did the table ever do to you, Peter?
Natasha stuck to the shadows.
Tony had let the intruders in and exited the suit, leaving himself vulnerable. It wasn’t a huge leap to guess who they must have been. Still Natasha decided to ere on the side of caution, as she didn’t know their intentions in returning. So, she stuck to the shadows.
The low lighting glanced off the metal shoulder of a severed limb, obviously belonging to Barnes. She could vaguely make out Clint’s profile as he fingered his bow-an old tell that he was tense or injured. The tall one-blonde, she could tell, apparently Steve-addressed Tony.
“I know this is sudden, but we sorta need your help. We got in a spot of trouble, we need some tech repairs and a place to lie low for a couple days, and you were the only person close by.”
Nat saw Tony bristle at Steve’s sheer nerve, a flash of outrage crossing his face before his mask shuttered down over it. Tony sneered at Steve, every bit the arrogant billionaire that he was not. “And why, pray tell, do you expect me to drop everything to help?
As Steve let out a longsuffering sigh, Natasha shifted her weight to fish her mobile from her pocket.
She could have sworn she had been silent, but Barnes head jerked in her direction as she moved. Curse super-soldier hearing.
"Наталия," he called out in her mother tongue, "Покажи себя."
A spark of irritated fondness sprung inside of the world’s deadliest assassin as she stepped into the light.
“Сейчас Наташа, солдат,” she responded.
“И я известен как Джеймс.”
“Ах, но ты всегда будешь солдатом.”
His head dipped slightly, acknowledging the truth to her words. “Рад видеть вас снова. Вы выросли, маленький паук. Вы взяли свою мантию стыда и сделали ее своей.”
“Действительно, солдат. Я вдова; эти слова могут означать что-то стоящее. Пока еще не видно, что вы будете делать с вашей мантией.”
“I get the feeling you are both planning somebody’s death, probably mine,” Tony broke Nat out of her revere, “Either way, that was absolutely terrifying. Make a note, Friday: Learn Russian ASAP.”
Natasha gave a chuckle. “Always the drama queen, Tony,” bumping shoulders with him as she came to stand by his side, making clear to the rest whose team she was batting for.
She shifted her focus to Steve, the man she still felt a kindling of friendship for, and fixed him with a cold glare. “Why have you come, Rogers?”
His stance softened, obviously expecting her to be more welcoming than Tony had been. He was in for a surprise. “We need help, Nat. Got caught in a sticky situation with Hydra-“
Clint snorted at his choice of words, “Sticky is one way to put it. Whoever came up with fuckin’ glue bombs, I swear to Thor-“
“-and, as I told Tony,” Steve barreled on, ignoring Clint entirely, “we need tech, medical care, and a place to lie low.”
Nat hummed long and low in her throat, pretending to mull it over. “I agree with Tony-I don’t see how this is any of our concern.”
An expression of anger crossed Steve’s face. “Come on Nat, don’t be petty…”
“I’m far from petty, Rogers,” Natasha bit out, smirking when he flinched at her use of his last name, clearly hurt, “but it seems to me that you are unaware of the situation. Let me remind you: You are internationally wanted criminals, choosing to act as vigilantes with little to no backup, as I assume T’Challa is not funding your little pet project. And yes, we know T’Challa is-or was, as of late-granting you sanctuary in Wakanda. For whatever godforsaken reason, you come to New York, get in trouble, and run back here expecting Tony to drop everything to help you. In doing so, you not only break into his home, but you also act in a threatening manner to the man who you beat and left for dead in a frozen bunker in Siberia.” She savored the shocked look crossing his features and held up her phone for emphasis, “So Steve, give me one single reason to stop me from calling the police.”
A heavy silence settled over the room, before Sam and Clint spoke as if with one mind, “What do you mean left for dead?”
“Nothing,” Steve bit out. “Nat is overexaggerating, or perhaps she doesn’t know the full story…” he trailed off.
Sam gave Steve a hard look, and turned back to Natasha and Tony. “Obviously I don’t know the full story here, and I know a lot of people were hurt during the war. But if nothing else, Clint and James really do need medical help. Please, and then we will get out of your hair, if you wish. We’ll disappear and you’ll never have to hear from us again, if that is what you want. But please.”
Tony held Sam’s gaze for a long, tense minute. “Fine,” he answered, suddenly sounding very tired, “but there will be no disappearing right off the bat. I deserve a full explanation after Birdbrain and Frosty here get taken care of and the rest of you have some rest and food. You know where your rooms are, and the common kitchen is stocked.” He glanced back at Sam with grudging respect, before eyeing the slightly smoking pack on his back. “Later we will see what we can do about fixing up your wings, Sam.”
Natasha actually had to choke back a giggle at the cold way Tony was treating Steve, and Steve’s apparent shock. The group seemed to take the dismissal for what it was, Clint and James following Tony over where he motioned and the others starting to disperse, when Friday interjected.
“Incoming, sir. Karen contacted me, and I believe donuts are Included.”
The rogue avengers jerked in surprise. “Tony, what-“
But they were cut off as a window opened just in time for a red blur to come whizzing through and crash into the coffee table.
Peter bounced up, mask half on, seemingly oblivious to the incredible stares of the others. Natasha rolled her eyes fondly as Tony psyched himself up for a lecture.
“Heya Mr. Stark! Thought you might need some extra hands, and Friday said that you hadn’t eaten in a while so I brought donuts!”
“Kid, you should be asleep.”
He shrugged. “It’s getting me out of trig homework anyway. Er… sorry about the table, it was an accident? I can try and fix it… oh and Aunt May says hi!”
Tony’s shoulder sagged-though with exasperation or relieved fondness, Natasha couldn’t tell.
“Come help me patch these two idiots up, and then we’ll go over this homework.”
“Aww, c’mon Tony…”
The four of them disappeared down the hall, Clint and James exchanging baffled looks. Nat allowed herself a small smile, before squaring her shoulders and turning to face the rest.
“Okay, to the common floor, and don’t mess anything up.”
She held Steve’s eyes for the last part, her words carrying hidden meaning. Then she ushered them all along.